Erich Kunzel & Cincinnati Pops Orchestra - Ravel: Boléro, M. 81 - Borodin: Music from "Kismet" - Bizet: Suites from "Carmen" (2008)

With more than 80 albums produced on the Telarc label, the commitment of Erich Kunzel -- the so-called Prince of Pops -- and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra to the proliferation of classical music is abundantly clear. Not only does the orchestra reach record numbers of live audience members each year, but the superbly produced and recorded Telarc CDs introduce classical music the world over. The recordings of the Cincinnati Pops completely sidestep the throngs of other pop classical recordings out there that employ inferior orchestras led by mediocre conductors performing randomly programmed pieces. This album opens with Ravel's Boléro, which in its own time was completely scandalous. Cincinnati's grand crescendo is a bit quicker than most, a wise decision considering the target audience. The middle work on the program is the one most likely to be unknown to modern audiences. Arranged by Kunzel himself, listeners are taken back to the 1950s with music from the extremely popular musical Kismet by Robert Wright and George Forrest. Excerpts are drawn from the music of Alexander Borodin; even casual listeners are likely to recognize many of the melodies even if the Broadway show itself is unfamiliar. After these two already great performances, the orchestra really shows its panache in two suites from Bizet's Carmen. Every aspect of these performances is timed to make listening to the music alone just as captivating and exciting as they would have been with their original live-action components. Telarc's sound -- both in standard stereo and SACD surround -- is crystal clear and enveloping.